Stoneybatter & District Local Update

Street Cleansing & Maintenance
Recent heavy rain means that residents have been rightly concerned about the need for all shores and gullies to be cleaned so that rain water can escape. Following on from a number of specific queries, I successfully lobbied the Council in order to have all drainage checked and cleaned on Oxmantown Road and Niall Street. This work has been carried out over the last week. Should there be shores and gullies on your street that need to be cleaned, do not hesitate to give me a call and I will make representations to the Council on your behalf. The Road Maintenance Department informed me that the footpath in St. Bricin’s Park has been damaged due to tree roots. Repair work will be carried out in the near future. Waste Management Services are organizing a date for the weeding of Ben Edair Road and I will keep local residents updated on that work.

Litter Problem
There has been a build up of litter on a number of roads in our area. It is the responsibility of the City Council to empty litter bins on a more regular basis. Unfortunately, this is not happening, I have highlighted this problem with the City Council. Following my representations, the City Council has committed to a Litter cleaning Blitz of the entire area which will take place in the coming weeks. We need more dog foul bins and litter bins in the Stoneybatter area. This is another issue that I have contacted Waste Management Services about. As a result they have agreed to inspect the streets for suitable locations for the provision of these bins. I will follow up with the Council to ensure this happens.

Permit Parking Schemes
A number of residents have raised the issue of Permit Parking schemes for Ben Edair Road, Niall Street and Oxmantown Road with me. A Permit Parking scheme was rejected in March by local residents on Ben Edair Road and the Traffic Advisory Group (TAG) will not consider another application before twelve months have lapsed. TAG has also informed me that no permit parking scheme has been considered for Niall Street, nor has a Permit Parking scheme been considered for Oxmantown Road since December 2003. Should any residents wish to have a permit parking scheme introduced, they can contact me and I will work with you on a request to the Traffic Advisory Group. Once TAG makes a recommendation on a particular measure, a ballot of effected residents takes place and depending on that result the measure will be introduced.

O’Devaney Gardens Redevelopment
Local people are disappointed and angered at the collapse of the O’Devaney Housing Project agreement with McNamara Ltd and are concerned about the next steps in the process. I have been told that McNamara Ltd and Dublin City Council have reached agreement in how the regeneration project can continue. It has been agreed that:
· O’Devaney Gardens will be returned to ownership of Dublin City Council
· McNamara Ltd will ensure the City Council be provided with a license to the designs for the proposed development
· Dublin City Council will receive €1.5 million towards costs incurred through the mediation process
I am delighted to hear that the O’Devaney Gardens project has been saved and that tenants will ultimately be provided with better homes to live and raise their families. Dublin City Council plan to bring forward further proposals for the redevelopment

Traffic Calming Measures
Many residents are concerned about the speed of cars through the area. All requests for traffic calming measures are considered by the Traffic Advisory Group (TAG) to the City Council’s Roads and Traffic Department. There is a need for greater traffic calming measures on Oxmantown Road and I have made representations on your behalf to the City Council. A Pedestrian crossing has been recommended for Oxmantown Road but funding has yet to be allocated for its installation. I will be lobbying the City Council for its inclusion in next year’s Dublin City Council’s Works Programme which will be finalized by the end of the year. If you would like to see some traffic calming measure introduced on your road, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me and I’ll do what I can to help.

What do I believe in?

I believe that everyone has responsibilities as well as rights. People should be able to make money but should also pay taxes to make sure there are good hospitals, more teachers in our schools and more Gardai on our streets. I strongly believe that those in charge of spending our money should spend it well and be accountable for it.

Why I joined Fine Gael?

I was inspired to get involved in Fine Gael as a student because people like the late Jim Mitchell, Garret FitzGerald and Richard Bruton showed me that politics can make a difference. Men who represented Dublin and did the city proud! I want to contribute to the Stoneybatter community in which I live and the wider North Inner City and I see Fine Gael as the best vehicle of achieving this.